Ramaphosa: Abuse, rape and killing of women not our heritage

President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the abuse, rape and killing of women in South Africa, saying it is not part of the country’s heritage.

The abuse, the rape and the killing of women is not our heritage. It is not who we are. It is not what we stand for.

Ramaphosa was speaking at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Friday, where he addressed a crowd of thousands of women who had marched to the seat of government to protest against gender-based violence.

The president said that the country was in the grip of a “crisis of violence against women” and that it was time for men to take responsibility for their actions.

We must stop the violence against women. We must stop the killing of women. We must stop the rape of women. We must stop the abuse of women.

Ramaphosa said that the government would be taking a number of steps to address the issue, including the establishment of a national council on gender-based violence and the strengthening of the criminal justice system.

He also called on men to “stand up and be counted” in the fight against gender-based violence.

We must all work together to build a society where women are safe, where women are respected, and where women are free to live their lives without fear.